Dead locking tubular night latch



July 21,1942. 5 E, BEST DEAD LOOKING TUBULAR NIGHI LATCH Filed Nov. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1942- F. E. BEST DEAD LOCKING TUBULAR NIGHT LATCH Filed Nov. 6; 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zvww 1,11

W WE gm? Patented July 21, 1942 uNirs-o srrss arem or fice 2,290,728 DEADLOCKING TUBULARNIGHT LATCH Frank'Ellison'Best, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application November 6, 1940, Serial No. 364,496

19- Claims. (Cl. 292-172) My invention relates to tubular locksand-my present application is in the nature of a continuation in part of my prior patent application Serial Number 299,592, filed Aug. 17, 1939.

An object of this invention is to provide a tubular lock, of the type known as a reversable dead locking night latch, having a large bolt with a long throw mounted in a tube of minimum size and operable with a small amount of spindle action.

Another object is to provide a tubular lock of this type that is of short over-all length and in which the distance from the lock face to the spindle center, commonly known as the backset is short.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient means for assembling a lock in a door in such a manner as to make it necessary to openthe door and-remove the lock before certain of the knob shank and spindle parts can be removed, thus making'it impossible for a person to disassemble the lock without first opening the door. 7

Other objects are toprovide a'lock'mechanism that is smooth in operation, easily retractable and one wherein the bolt is pushed back easily without turning the knobs when a door carrying the lock mechanism is pushed closed.

Other objects are to provide a lock of this type that is simple, durable and not expensive in construction, neat and rugged in appearance and efficient and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide bolt blocking means of novel and efficient construction which makes it impossible to insert a thin fiat instrument between a door and a door jamb and push the bolt of the look back to thereby gain admission through the door.

Another object is to provide a tubular lock of thisnature in which the backset and the over-all length may be varied without altering any of the parts of the lock except the housing and a bolt retracting member.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompaniying drawings:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of a tubular dead locking night latch constructed in accordance'withthis inventiontaken substantially on broken lines "li of Figs. 2, 4,5, 6 and 7.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal axial section-cf the same taken'substantially on broken "line -.'22 of Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of securing a face plate 'to a face plate retainer. 7

Fig.4 is a sectional view, on a-s-maller scale than Figs. 1 and 2, 'taken'substantially on broken lines 44 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 5, 6 and -7 are sectional views taken substantially on broken lines 5-5, 66 and 1-1 of Figs. land 2.

Fig.--8-'is a detached isometric-view of a bolt retracting member.

Fig. 9 is a detached isometric view of a dead locking spring.

Fig. 10 isa detached isometric-view of a tubular spring guide and'bolt retractor'that is connected withthe latch *bolt.

"Fig. 1 1 is a-fragmentary-sectional View showing the lock constructed-to provide a greater distance between the face of the lock and the axiso'f the spindle, this distance being commonly referred to as the backset.

Fig. 12 is asectional View with parts in elevation showing this-lock installed; a fragment of a door and a door lamb being shown.

Fig. '13 is a detached sectional 'view on broken line |3|3 of Fig. l hshowing a fragment of a tubular member that extends crosswise of a door and interlocks with this lock when the same is installed.

Fig. 14 is' asectional view substantially on broken line I3-l3-of Fig. '14.

Similar characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The housing of this lock comprises a tubular shell 28 preferably formedfrom a single' piece of I metal by suitable drawing and annealing operations. The forward end portion of the shell 29 has an integral faceplate retainer 2| extending perpendicularly therefrom.

The faceplate retainer 2| is'flat and of rectangular shape andis secured to arectangular face plate 22 by clinching annular projections 23 of the face plate 22 over indented annular portions 24 of the face plate retainer .as shown in Fig. 3, the clinched portions being at the location of screw holes 25 through which screws 26 are inserted, seeFig. 12, to secure the lock to a door 21.

Preferably the marginal edges of theface plate 22 are beveled, as indicated by 28 in'Figs. 2 and 3, and the edges 29 of the face plate retainer 2! are dished to fitover and receive the face plate and are internally beveled to substantially mate with the bevels 28 of the face plate. The dished edges 29 of the face plate retainer2l are just deep enough to receive the face plate 22 and be flush with the outer surface thereof and the joint between the face plate 22 and dished edges 29 is a corner joint that terminates at the outermost edge of the face plate 22 and is substantially invisible.

When the face plate 22 is mated with a retainer plate 2! so as to provide a corner joint, as above described, it is possible to provide one finish on the face plate and a different finish on the face plate retainer 29 and yet have the two parts look like a single piece having two different finishes thereon. Also this method of construction gives to the look a strong and rugged appearance.

The rear end portion of the shell 26 is the full width of the shell in one plane, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and is flattened in a plane at right angles to the first mentioned plane, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The flattening of the rear end portion of the shell 29 provides two oppositely positioned shoulders 36 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and two flat side walls 3|.

The flattened side walls 3! are bent inwardly to provide cylindrical bearing flanges 32 and the walls 33 at the rear end of the flattened portion are bent inwardly and forwardly to leave a notch or opening 34 in said rear walls so that this portion of the lock may be fitted over a spindle 35, as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 and hereinafter described, without inserting the spindle endwise therethrough.

A throw member made up of a gear segment 36 secured between two discs 3'! by rivets 38 is supported for angular movement in the bearing flanges 32. The gear segment 36 and discs 31 are all notched from one edge inwardly to provide an opening 39 which may be passed over the spindle 35 shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. Thus the lock can be inserted into the door and fitted over the spindle while the spindle is in place or can be withdrawn from the door without removing the spindle. Gear teeth 49 are provided on the gear segment 36. As the lock housing 26 is of one piece construction the discs 31 are installed after the throw member has been positioned in the housing.

A beveled latch bolt 4| is reciprocably supported in the front end portion of the shell 29 and in a substantially cylindrical opening 42 in the face plate 22. This latch bolt 4| is of substantially cylindrical cross section except that it has a flattened portion 43 on one side and is provided with two notches 44 which cooperate with suitable parts of the face plate to prevent rotary movement of the .bolt.

An outwardly directed flange 45 on the inner end portioneof the bolt 4| is adapted to engage with a ring 46 of cushioning material, such as cork, when the bolt is fully extended. The ring 46 serves as a cushioning and sound deadening means.

A dead locking slide 4'! is positioned against the flat side 43 of the latch bolt 4|. A shoulder 48 is provided on the dead locking slide 41 for engagement with the cushion ring 46. Another shoulder 49 is provided on the dead locking slide 41 for engagement with the inner end portion of the latch bolt 41.

The inner end portion of the dead locking slide 41 extends a substantial distance into the housing 26 and a longitudinal hole 53 is provided therein for the reception of a compression spring that is guided on a pin 52. The pin 52 is staked or otherwise secured to a plate 53 that rests against the shoulders 39.

A guide tube 54 has one end portion thereof fixedly secured in the latch bolt 4|, as by press fitting. This guide tube 54 is positioned coaxially of the lock and extends inwardly from the latch bolt 4| into the housing 20.

The inner end of this guide tube 54 is split and flared outwardly as shown in Figs. 7 and 10 to provide four substantially radial arms 55 and an outwardly protruding lug 56. The radial arms 55 are guided in the housing 26 and on guide means hereinafter described and the guide tube 54 gives stability to the bolt 4| and serves as a guide for a compression spring 51. A guide pin 58, staked to the plate 53 cooperates in guiding the spring 57.

A bolt retracting member, shown in isometric in Fig. 8, is provided within the housing 26. This bolt retracting member comprises an end plate 59 having two integral rack bars 60 positioned on opposite sides thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The position of this look retracting member in Fig. 8 is reversed end for end as respectsthe showing of the same in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rack bars 69 are positioned and shaped so that they engage with the walls of the housing 26 and are guided thereby, see Figs. 1 and '7, and the lower edge portions of said rack bars extend inwardly to form shelf members or guide portions 6| for the arms 55.

A longer rack tooth 62 is provided at the inner end of each rack bar 69 and a plurality of shorter rack teeth 63 are provided forwardly of longer teeth 62.

The end plate 59 is provided with a centrally positioned hole 64 for slidably receiving the guide tube 54. Also the end plate 59 is provided with another hole 65 positioned adjacent the hole 64. A tubular spring guide member 66 is positioned within the hole 65 and is provided with an eX- ternal flange 61, which engages with one side of the plate 59.

A compression spring 68 has one end portion thereof positioned within the spring guide member 66 and the other end thereof positioned to abut against the plate 53. A guide pin 69 staked to plate 53 is provided within spring 68 and extends through tubular spring guide 66. Recesses F6 are provided in latch bolt M to afford clearance for spring guide 66 and guide pin 69 and for cams 14 on plate member 59, this clearance being necessary when the bolt is pushed back without retracting the member 59-459.

The bolt is thus pushed back, without moving the retractor means 59-69 and without turning the throw or spindle or knob means, every time the door is pushed closed.

An L shaped bolt blocking spring ll is secured to the plate 53 by trapping the same between the plat 53 and suitable shoulders on the pins 58 and 69.

One leg of spring 1| extends outwardly from plate 53 just above helical spring 5| and has its end portion positioned on the dead locking slide 41. A bolt blocking lug 12 is formed by stamping the same out of said spring 1| near the free end thereof and said spring II also has a curved or cam shaped portion 13 bowed toward th path of movement of the bolt blocking slide 41 and arranged to be engaged by said slide when said slide is moved inwardly.

The bolt blocking lug 12 is positioned so that it may be moved into alignment with the lug 56 on the main spring guide 54 but stands clear of said lug 56 unless the free end of the spring H is raised up bythe dead locking slide 41, as her-einafter explained. I

Two cam members 14 are provided on the lower portion of the end plate-59 for the .purpose of engaging with and depressing the tree end portion of the spring TI. The cam members 14 ar spaced apart laterally-so=-as-'to clear the lug 72.

The end plate 59 ofthe bolt retracting member, Fig. 8,-has twooutwa-rdly extending lugs 1-5 that are positioned on-opposite sides -ofth dead locking slide 41 and cooperate in guiding both the dead locking slide -=a=nd--the bolt retracting member.

"If it is desired to provide a lock with a longer I 'backset, or greater distance from the'face of the lock-to the axis of the shank thenlprovide a longer lock housing 89, Fig. 11, and provide longer rack bars and provide a ring member '19 between the plate 53-andthe shouldered end portion 'of the housi-ngan'd use an .of the remaining parts of the look without alterations. Thus I am able to vary the backset of the look by varying the lengths of the housing and-rack -bars only. Obviouslythering member 19 may be of any desired thickness to provide any desired baekset and the housing and rack members-may -be' proportioned accordingly.

In installing-this lockina door one hole it is bored inwardlyfrom the :edge of the door for the reception of the lock and another intersecting hole L1 is boredtransversely of thedoor. Th axes of the two holes 15 and it intersect at right angles to each other and the transverse hole 17 is set back from the edge of the door "2! the proper distance so that its axis will 00- incide with the axis of a spindle-3.5 to be later installed therein.

A tubular member 83 having relatively thick walls-and having an axial passageway 84 for receiving andguiding the spindle 35 is installed in thetransverse hole 71. Theends of th tubular member 83 are broken away in Fig. 13 but may be of any suitabl -shape to cooperate with knob means .or lock means by which the spindle 35 may be operated. The tube 83 forms both an armor meansand asupport for the lock and for the'spindle 35.

'I-hemedial portion of the tubular member 83 ha a, transverse slot 85 tor the reception of the narrower inner end portions of the lock housing 20 and said tubular member .83 further has a transverse cut away portion 86 on one side thereof toprovideclearance for the shoulders of the lock housing.

Obviously when the tubular member -83 and the lock are installed-in the relation shown in Fig. 12 it will be impossible to remove the lock as long as th door 27 is in closed position and it will be impossible to remove the tubular member-83 and thus gain access to the inner end portion of the look while said lock is in its proper position in the door. This provides a safeguard against unauthorized persons disassembling'the lock to thus gain admission through the .doorthatis safeguarded by the-lock.

In-the assembly of the tubular lock mechanism within the housing 20, preferably the several parts of the lock mechanism are first put together outside of the housing-with-thegear segment 3% in engagement with the longer rack teeth 62 and the disc members 3? detached. These assembledparts are then slipped into the open .zendzof the lock housing 2i] and properly positioned and the facepla-te ZZ .anddiscs '3-1 are applied and fastened leaving the lock permanently assembled in such a manner thatit can not be taken apart without unclinching theface plate fastening members 23.24 and removing the rivets 38.

This dead locking tubular night latch is quickly and easily installed in a door 2] by boring the two intersecting holes 76 and 11 thus saving much time :over any installation that.requires mortising.

The holes 16 and "H are of a size capable of being bored with bits ordinarily carried by carpenters and do not require expansive bits for boring.

This night latch may be operated by various form of turn knobs and primary locks connected with gear member :36'or directly by knobs.

When a door carrying this night latch is open the several parts of the latch will occupy the positions shown in Figs, 1 and 2. When the door is moved to a closed position the bolt 4| will be moved inwardly by engagement with a keeper or striker plate 82 ofa door frame it and will carry the dead locking slid 4! inwardly along with it.

When bolt 4! and dead locking slide t? thus move inwardly together by pressure from the outside the stop lug '56 of spring guidefid will move past the bolt blocking lug 12 before the dead locking slide 47 engages with the curved portion 13 of spring '5! and begins 'to'lift said spring and there will be no blocking of this in ward movement.

Also when inward movement of the bolt 4i and dead locking slide-4i is produced by prose sure-0n the bolt 4|, as by the closing of the door,

closing of the door against a soft spring prose.

sure, a thing which is desirable in operation.

When the bolt '4! .snaps outwardly into an opening 8'! in the striker plate :82, as thedoor is closed, the dead locking slid 4'! will .not drop into the opening til but will abut against the striker plate 82 and will be held in retracted position thereby. This will elevate the movable end portion of the spring H a the curved portion 13 of said spring rides forwardly over the dead locking slide 41 and will position the bolt blocking lug 12 in blocking'positionas respects the lug 56.

If an attempt is made to push'the bolt 4! back into the look when the bowed portion 3'3 Of the spring H thus rests on the dead locking slide 41 the stop lug 56 will strike against the boltblocking lug l2 and the bolt 4! will be thereby blocked against retractile movement.

This prevents unauthorized retraction of the bolt 41 by .inserting a flat instrument between a door and a door jamb and-pressing said flat instrument against the inclined face of th bolttl.

Some lost motion is provided between the stop lug 56 and the bolt blocking lug 12 when the bolt is projected outwardly. Thislo-st motion is not enough to allow the bolt ii to be pushed back clear of the striker plate by force applied from the outside. However it provides enough lost motion so that when bolt l! is drawn inwardly by retractile movement'of bolt retracting member 59-60 the cams it will contact the raised end portion of spring 7i and depress the bolt blocking lug 72 before the stop lug it strikes said lug 72.

When gear segment 35 is angularly moved in either direction by turning spindle 35, either with a knob or by the insertion of a key in a lock or by a turn knob or otherwise, it will begin to retractively move the bolt retracting member 5969 and bolt 4|. As cam members I4 move to the right, Fig. 2, they will engage with and depress the end portion of the spring H and will move the blocking 111g 12 out of the path of lug 53 before lug 56 encounters said lug 12.

When the curved portion 13 of the spring ll rests on the dead locking slide 41 the end portion of the spring II will be elevated above said Slide 41 and can be readily depressed by cams 14.

It is to be noted that the end portion of the tubular spring guide 54 extends well into the bolt M. This spring guide is preferably formed of hardened steel which serves as an armor means embedded within the bolt and makes it very diiiicult to saw through the bolt.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In lock means for a door having two openings therein intersecting each other at right angles, a tubular shank member positioned in one of said openings, a longitudinal spindle in said shank, a transverse passageway in said shank, a lock housing adapted to be inserted in the other opening, a throw member rotatively mounted in the inner end portion of said lock housing, said throw member and said housing having slots adapted to register with each other whereby the rear end portion of said lock housing may be inserted into the transverse passageway in said shank and the slots in said housing and said throw member passed over said spindle.

2. In lock means of the class described, an integral tubular housing, a relatively narrow end portion on the rear end of said housing, said narrow end portion having aligned substantially circular openings in the sides thereof, a throw member adapted to be positioned in said narrow end portion, and separable discs insertable in said circular openings from the exterior of said housing and rotatively movable in said circular openings, and means adapted to secure said discs to said throw member after said throw member is positioned in said housing, said discs serving to correctly align said throw member and support the same for oscillation.

3. In a look, a tubular housing, a bolt reciprocable in said housing, a reciprocable bolt retracting plate positioned diametrically of said housing and having a guide hole therein, a tube secured to said bolt and extending slidably through said guide hole, radial arms on said tube on the opposite side of said plate from said bolt providing guide means for said tube and adapted to engage with said plate and retract said bolt when said plate is retracted, springs urging said bolt outwardly, and plate retracting means connected with said plate for retracting the same.

4. In a look, a tubular housing, a reciprocable bolt in said housing, a reciprocable dead locking slide positioned alongside of said bolt movable by said bolt into a retracted position and adapted to be retained by engagement with a striker plate in said retracted position when said bolt moves outwardly into locked engagement with said striker plate, a bolt retracting plate positioned diametrically of said housing and having an opening therein, a tube secured to said bolt and extending slidably through said plate, a stop lug on the end portion of said tube on the opposite side of the plate from the bolt, a bolt blocking spring, movable into and out of a blocking position as respects said lug, means on said spring positioned for engagement by said dead locking slide to move the same into bolt blocking position when the slide is held inwardly, and means on the plate to depress the spring.

5. In a look, a reciprocable bolt, a reciprocable dead locking slide, retractively movable with said bolt, bolt retracting means operable to retract said bolt and adapted to remain immovable if said bolt is pushed inwardly, a bolt blocking spring resting on said dead locking slide, and having a forward end portion movable into and out of a blocking position relative to said bolt, a curved portion on said spring extending into the path of the dead locking slide, whereby said spring will be moved into a bolt blocking position when said slide is retracted and said bolt is outwardly projected, and cam means on said bolt retracting means positioned to engage with said spring and depress the bolt blocking end portion thereof if said bolt retracting means is retracted when said slide is in a retracted position.

6. In a lock, a tubular housing, a reciprocable bolt in said housing, a reciprocable dead locking slide positioned alongside of said bolt movable by said bolt into a retracted position when the bolt is retracted and adapted to be retained by engagement with a striker plate in a retracted position when the bolt moves outwardly into locked engagement with the striker plate, a bolt retracting plate reciprocable in said housing, means for retracting said plate, bolt retracting means connecting said bolt and said plate providing for movement of said bolt toward said plate when said bolt is pushed inwardly and providing for retractile movement of said bolt with said plate when said plate is retracted, a bolt blocking spring of fiat metal resting on said dead locking slide, a bolt blocking lug on the forward end portion of said spring, a curved portion on said spring extending into the path of the slide whereby said spring will be moved into a bolt blocking position when said slide is retracted without retracting said bolt, and cam means on said plate positioned to engage with said spring and depress the bolt blocking end portion thereof if said plate is retracted when said slide is in a retracted position.

7. In a look, a tubular housing, a reciprocable bolt in said housing, a reciprocable bolt retracting plate in said housing having a guide hole therein, two oppositely positioned bars on said plate slidably guided in said housing, retracting means operatively connected with said bars, an inwardly directed guide portion forming a shelf member extending longitudinally of each of said bars, a tube secured to said bolt and extending slidably through said guide hole in said plate, and outwardly extending arms on said tube on the opposite side of said plate from said bolt, two of said arms resting on said shelf members formed by said guide portions and being guided thereby for longitudinal movement.

8. In a look, a tubular housing, a reciprocable bolt in said housing, a reciprocable bolt retracting plate in said housing having a guide hole therein, two oppositely positioned bars on said plate slidably guided in said housing and extending longitudinally therein, guide means carried by said bars, retracting means operatively connected with said bars, a bolt retracting tube secured to said bolt and extending through the guide hole in said retracting plate, outwardly extending guide arms carried by the inner end portion of said bolt retracting tube engaging the walls of said housing, and other outwardly extending guide arms carried by the inner end portion of said bolt retracting tube and guided on said guide means.

9. In a tubular lock, a tubular shank member having a transverse passageway therein, a tubular lock housing positioned at right angles to said tubular shank member and extending into said transverse passageway to thereby prevent rotative and longitudinal movement of said tubular shank member relative to said tubular lock housing, a spindle extending longitudinally within said shank member, a throw member rotatively mounted in the inner end portion of said tubular lock housing, said throw member and the inner end portion of said tubular lock housing having notches therein positioned to register with each other and positioned to receive therein said spindle when said tubular lock housing is inserted into said tubular shank member.

10. In tubular lock means for use with a door that is provided with two bores intersecting each other at right angles, a tubular shank member adapted to be positioned in one of said bores and having a transverse passageway therein, a tubular lock housing adapted to be positioned in the other bore and at right angles to said tubular shank member, said tubular lock housing having an end portion of less width than the diameter of the lock housing positioned in said transverse opening of said shank member when the lock is assembled and preventing rotative and longitudinal movement of said tubular shank member relative to said tubular lock housing, a spindle positionedaxially of said tubular shank member, a throw member rotatively mounted in the narrower inner end portion of said tubular lock housing, said throw member and the narrower inner end portion of said tubular lock housing having notches therein positioned to register with each other and positioned to receive therein said spindle when said tubular lock housing is inserted into said tubular shank member.

FRANK ELLISON BEST. 

